2003 review

This is the first James Patterson book I've ever read. My initial observation is that you can immediately tell that the very short chapters and the large text layout of these books are a result of customer research - and it truly works! The books feel incredibly easy to read, as if you're just flying through them! The series itself, although it's chock full of clichés and tropes, the core concept of a group of women from different professions and backgrounds collaborating to solve murders is really cool in all kinds of ways! I would rate it 6 out of 12.



2010 review:

Women's Murder Club book 1: It has over-the-top, predictable twists and is full of holes. However, this bestseller is still an interesting and worthwhile read. It's the first in the Women's Murder Club series. I would give it a 4 out of 12 rating.

The mystery or crime in this story wasn't all that bad. In fact, I was able to guess the general outline, but not the minute details. Those details provided some nice little twists that kept me engaged to a certain extent.

However, my major complaint lies solely with the main character (MC). Goodness gracious, she is truly annoying. Here she is, a female homicide detective, yet she wants people to believe that she is so emotionally unstable that she faints when looking at bodies and speaking to perpetrators.

Sure, it's nice to have emotions, and I understand that cops aren't robots. But this level of instability comes across as extremely unprofessional.

Moreover, she falls in love instantly, which seems rather implausible. And when she's not obsessing over that, she's constantly boasting about how she's too awesome to get sick. Apparently, diseases are only for those who are not thin and not pretty.

She is completely one-track-minded, storming in one direction without considering other perspectives, until she suddenly changes her mind and charges off in another. Then, she gets offended when no one blindly follows her deluded ideas. After all, don't you know? She's awesome!

I'm really disappointed. I've been eagerly anticipating this book for years. I think I'm going to skip a few and see if the later books in the series are more to my liking.

How long has it been since you stayed up too late to finish a book that you just couldn't put down? It happened to be last night, and the book was First to Die by James Patterson. I was initially skeptical as I thought Patterson was an assembly line author.

However, I was pleasantly surprised. I love books with short chapters, and this one fit the bill perfectly. It suited my attention span, eliminating the need to constantly wonder how many pages were left in a chapter before checking my email or having another cookie.

The first impression was a bit mixed. The police making jokes while viewing the bodies of the bride and groom in their hotel suite seemed a little tasteless. But perhaps it's just the way Patterson's mystery novels begin or a way for the author to say "Don't take this book too seriously."

I don't know much about James Patterson, but I do know he and his co-authors have written a lot of books. This is the first in the Women's Murder Club series. I have several more of his books on my TBR shelf, and now that I know his name might be just a front for his writing corporation, I'm not sure what to expect.

First books in a series are always in demand, especially for someone like me who is new to mysteries. I get to be introduced to the main characters and start fresh. I decided to try out some mysteries with strong women protagonists after leaving the Hardy Boys series decades ago.

Maxine Paetro has collaborated with Patterson on the Women's Murder Club series, starting with The Fourth of July. I wanted to start with the first book to see if I could notice any difference when the collaboration begins.

After reading only this one book, I can't say for sure if Patterson has a unique template for his stories or a predictable pattern. But his books are definitely popular and at the top of the earnings charts. As a relatively inexperienced mystery reader, I did enjoy this book quite a lot. It had enough complexity, mystery, and dramatic tension for me.

However, Patterson does have some failings. The Women's Murder Club is populated by strong women, but I would have liked to see more sensitivity to women's issues and less good-humored man hating. Also, the relationship between Lindsay and her male work partner didn't pass the "No Means No" test for me.

Overall, I will read more of the Women's Murder Club series to see if it improves. I'm giving First to Die three and a half stars, rounded up to four, to show my optimistic hope for improvement from the strong women perspective. I'm pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book, and I'm curious to see if Patterson's other series are different.

Ah yes, this must be the intro to the women's romantic counterpart to Alex Cross, given the outcome of the beau in this novel. It seems that the story is set to explore a different kind of relationship dynamic, perhaps one that is more complex and emotional.

This one didn't hold as much mystery as some other novels in the genre, but the ancillary clues were still interesting. They added an extra layer of depth to the story and kept the reader engaged, even when the main mystery wasn't as challenging as expected.

Some sections felt a bit forced and overly convenient, which detracted slightly from the overall reading experience. However, I still enjoyed the narrative voice of Lindsay. She was a strong and likable character, and her perspective added a unique flavor to the story.

Overall, I would rate this novel 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. It had its flaws, but it was still an enjoyable read that kept me entertained from start to finish. I would recommend it to fans of the genre who are looking for a new and interesting story to read.

Expected more than that, I guess.

Given how popular the author is, I had high hopes for this book. However, it didn't quite meet my expectations.

The story seemed a bit flat and the characters lacked depth.

Despite this, I'm still willing to give a few more books of his a try.

Maybe this was just a one-off and his other works will be more engaging.

I'm curious to see if he can live up to the hype and show me what he's really capable of.

After all, a single book doesn't necessarily define an author's entire body of work.

I'll keep an open mind and hope for the best.

High-stakes and action-packed, “1st to Die” by James Patterson is an emotionally suspenseful crime fiction novel.

As a first-time reader of a James Patterson novel, I wasn't disappointed. Just when I thought I had figured out who the killer was, the twists began and didn't cease until the very last page.

The main character, Lindsay, is highly likable, and so are her cohorts in the Women's Murder Club. They form an engaging group of powerful women. In contrast, the killer, while interesting, is truly deplorable. This individual is a human with impaired empathy and no sense of remorse.

The point of view alternates between following the main character and the killer, which effectively builds tension and suspense within the narrative. The novel is divided into four books plus an epilogue, neatly framing the plot into distinct sections. The brief chapters contribute to the fast pace of the book, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat.

“1st to Die” is a truly riveting crime thriller. Readers who have a penchant for the crime fiction genre will无疑 enjoy this novel. It offers a thrilling ride filled with unexpected turns and engaging characters that will leave you eager for more.

There's nothing specifically outstanding about this book, yet it's truly remarkable how the pages seem to turn themselves almost effortlessly. It's like pure junk food for the mind, and I mean that as a compliment. Just as processed food is meticulously engineered by highly skilled workers to have universal appeal to the broadest possible market, this book has a certain allure.

Patterson, who was a top advertising executive before embarking on his writing career, appears to have made a strategic decision. In addition to his bestselling Alex Cross novels and their film adaptations, he recognized the need for a series that would appeal to women and television. So, he created a story about four chicks with diverse skills - an ensemble cast! Since Alex Cross operates on the East Coast, this series is set on the West Coast for a different backdrop. The characters have complex love lives, health issues, and career setbacks, which add depth and color to the narrative.

What's impressive about Patterson is his professionalism. While you're reading, he doesn't make you feel like just another market segment. He genuinely wants to tell a good story and shows a real interest in his characters' feelings, even if they may seem banal at times. Although I doubt I'll be reading another installment in this series, new writers could learn a great deal from following this master craftsman's lead. His ability to engage readers and create a page-turning story is a testament to his writing skills.

I truly, deeply, and passionately love love love James Patterson. He has become my new favorite author, and for very good reasons.

His writing style is simply outstanding. It is not only easy to read but also extremely fast-paced, which keeps you hooked from the very first page.

One of the things that I appreciate the most about his writing is the way he explains things. He does it in such a manner that you can easily understand, yet without making you feel as if you are lacking in intelligence.

In this series, his characters are exceptionally well developed. They are not only believable but also highly entertaining, making you care about their fates and rooting for them throughout the story.

Another aspect that I absolutely love is the fact that his chapters are very, very short. This means that you can always find a good stopping place, even if you only have a short amount of time to read. It makes his books perfect for those who are always on the go or have a busy schedule.

In conclusion, I would highly recommend James Patterson to anyone who loves a good read. His books are engaging, entertaining, and a great escape from reality.

Lindsay is the only female police inspector in San Francisco. She has fought against all odds to maintain her position and has even gone through a rather painful divorce. So, when pairs of newlyweds start to be found dead on their wedding night, she knows it could be the most difficult case of her career. Parallel to this, she finds out that she is suffering from a blood disease with a very high mortality rate. She also knows that she alone won't be able to solve it. Therefore, together with her friend Claire (the forensic), Cindy (the journalist), and Jill (the district attorney), they join forces to verify facts, clues, and laws that will allow them to figure out who the killer is and how to get all the evidence to catch him.

It is an interesting and entertaining story, with a bit of drama and a lot of mystery. The way the author tells the story allows you to know several points of view, one of which is that of the killer. And although it is not until the end that we really discover the reason for the murders, the killer is revealed almost in the middle of the book, and the way the protagonist and her friends manage to get the evidence is what really keeps the story interesting.

In short, despite being set in the previous century (before cell phones and social media), it is very entertaining and I will continue to read the series to see what other murders the "Women Against Crime Club" manages to solve.

Wow!

I wasn't expecting that at all.

Mr. Patterson truly knows the art of crafting a captivating story.

The way he weaves the plot and develops the characters is simply remarkable.

From the very beginning, I was hooked and couldn't put the book down.

Each chapter left me on the edge of my seat, eagerly anticipating what would happen next.

I can't wait to continue this series and see where the story takes me.

I'm sure there will be more twists and turns, more excitement and drama.

Mr. Patterson has definitely become one of my favorite authors, and I'm looking forward to reading more of his works.

I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a good mystery or thriller.

You won't be disappointed!

James Patterson has truly outdone himself once again with the captivating series, the Women's Murder Club.

This particular installment serves as the perfect beginning to what is sure to be an outstanding series.

The story immediately grabs the reader's attention and takes them on a thrilling ride.

The characters are well-developed and engaging, each with their own unique personalities and strengths.

The plot is filled with twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of their seat, constantly guessing what will happen next.

Patterson's writing style is fast-paced and action-packed, making it impossible to put the book down.

Overall, the Women's Murder Club is a must-read for any mystery or thriller fan.

It sets the stage for an exciting and unforgettable series that is sure to keep readers entertained for a long time to come.

I absolutely adored "1st to Die". It served as the flawless commencement of a captivating and thrilling series. The decision of the women to unite and collaborate in order to halt a serial killer was truly ingenious. I firmly believe that it illuminated the genuine essence of each one of them, demonstrating that their actual objective was to safeguard the public from peril rather than seeking personal recognition for being the solitary cause behind the killer's apprehension.

This book functions so effectively because of the diverse qualities that each woman contributes. Lindsey makes for an excellent main character precisely because of the other women in her life. If the book had solely focused on Lindsey by herself, I highly doubt it would have been nearly as pleasurable.

"1st to Die" was a remarkable mystery that held nothing back. The murders were truly shocking. The serial killer's modus operandi of targeting couples on their wedding nights was a concept that was deeply upsetting on its own. The frantic race to track down the killer was palpable, and I found myself completely immersed in the momentum of the book. Once I began reading, I simply couldn't put it down. I was compelled to know who the killer was and how they would ultimately be stopped.

The initial book in any mystery series has the potential to be either a hit or a miss, given the necessity of establishing the groundwork and presenting background details. For me, "1st to Die" was most definitely a hit. Honestly, I cannot think of a single aspect that wasn't absolutely perfect in this book. If you haven't yet embarked on this series, you are truly missing out on a literary gem.